Selvage mechanism for leno looms



Nov. 5, 1929. H. A. DAVIS SELVAGE MECHANISM FOR LENO LOOMS Filed June 2. 1927 lnvenror.

s m l 3 0M A w m Patented Nov. 5, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY A. DAVIS, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER CORPORA- TION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE i SELVAGE MECHANISM FOR LENO LOOMS Application filed June 2,

ric and this is particularly true where fabrics- I having a special weave are woven. The presout invention contemplates the provision of a harness having a pair of heddle frames each of which is provided with a series of heddles operable to produce a special weave, such as a leno weave, the said harnesses also being provided with narrower groups of heddles of a different type, preferably operable to produce bands of plain weave. The narrower groups of heddles for producing the plain weave desirably are secured to the harnesses at the ends of the series of heddles for produring the special weave to form a plain woven selvage from the web of fabric.

For certain purposes it is desirable to weave a plurality of strips or hands having special weave with edges having a plain weave. In such case one or more intermediate groups of heddles for producing a plain weave may be secured to the respective heddle frames. By separating these intermediate groups of heddles the fabric produced will comprise a plurality of webs of special weave having edges of plain weave with a space between the adjacent edges of the intermediate bands of plain weave. Therefore, by cutting the wefts, which connect the adjacent bands of plain weave, a plurality of strips of fabric may be woven each of which has a body portion of a special weave with marginal portions of a plain weave. g

A further object of the invention is to provide means for adjustably attaching the narrower groups of heddles to the heddle frames so that the narrow bands may be properly associated with the edges of the special weave. This is desirable Where, as in certain instan es, the narrower strips of special fabric,

1927. Serial No. 196,114.

rics. In such cases the free ends of the weft threads, which are severed between the warps of the leno weave, produce a chenille yarn which is suitable for such purpose and when Weft threads of different colors are employed various types of chenille yarn may be pro duced.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which the heddle frames are provided with a series of special heddles operable to produce a leno weave with a plurality of groups of heddles for producing plain weave at the ends of the respective series of heddles for producing the leno weave.

Inasmuch as the present invention is adapted to be embodied in looms-of usual types, only so much of the loom structure is illustrated as is necessary to show the application of the present invention thereto. if Y In the drawings:

Fig 1 illustrates a portion of the loom frame and a pair of loom harnesses, one of which is shown as embodying two series of heddles for producing the leno weave with narrower groups of heddles for producing plain weave associated with the leno-producing heddles and located at the ends of the respective series of leno-producing heddles,'together with means for adjustably securing the groups of heddles upon the heddle frame;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, showing the manner in which the supports for the narrow groups of heddles are secured to the heddle frames; and,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View also illustrating the preferred means for adjustably securing the narrow groups of heddles to the heddle frames.

The loom may be of a usual type comprising side frames 1 and 2 having standards 3 and 4 mounted upon, and extending upwardly from the central portions of the loom sides and connected at their upper ends by a transverse girder 5 having mounted in bearings 6 and 7 thereupon the usual shaft 8 which is provided with pairs of rollers 9 and 10 respectively to which are secured the straps The heddle frame is rectangular form comprising an upper hoiinontal bar 13 and a lower horizontal bar 14 which are connected by end bars and 16. in the construction illustrated vert c l guideways preferably in the form of angle bars 1? and 18, are secured to and extend longitudinally of the end bars 15 and 16 of the heddle frames.

The heddle frames are provided with different t es of heddles operable to produce different weaves. In the particular construction illustrated main heddles for producing a fabric boc y or fabric bodies having a leno weave are shown. These heddles comprise a series of needle hedd es 19 extending approximately half of the height o'f-the frame and provided with eyes 20 to receive alternate warps with plain heddles or dents 21 between the respective needle heddles.

Two series of such fixed main heddles for producing leno weave are shown which are located respectively upon opposite sides of the central portion of the heddle frame. Narrower groups of plain heddles 22 and 23, having the usual-heddle eyes 24 in-the central portions thereof, are mounted at the outer ends of the heddle frames in proximity to the adjacent ends of the respective series of leno-producing heddles. In the construction shown two series of leno heddles are provided which are located respectively upon opposite sides of the central portion of the heddle frame and additional groups 25 and 26 of plain-weaveproducing heddles are mounted upon the heddle frame at the inner ends of the respective series of leno-producing heddles. The intermediate groups of plain-weave-producing heddles are shown as separated from each other so that the web of cloth produced will comprise two bodies of leno fabric having bands of plain weave at the edges thereof, theintermediate bands of plain weave being connected by the wefts which extend the full width of the loom. By severing these connecting wefts two similar strips of fabrics may beobtained.

It will be readily understood that by omitting certain of the leno-producing heddles and applying to the 'heddle frames plainweave-producing heddles, any number of series of fabrics of this character may be woven upon the loom. The weaving of narrower stripsof fabric, provided at theiredges with Hesira b'le where the fabric is afterwards cut between the warps to produce the chenille ya *n'above mentioned.

' In order to provioea fabric of any desirable width havinga special body weave with rear harness-is lite rrow bands of plain weave is particularly bands of plain weave at the edges thereof, means are provided for adjustably securing the plain-weavc-preducing heddles to the heddle frames. Any suitable means may be employed for this purpose. In the preferred construction illustrated herein the upper and lowerenus of the heddles for producing the plain weave are connected respectively to heddle supports 27 and 28 which desirably are of identical construction and adapted to be detachably connected respectively to the upper-and lower bars 13 and let of the heddle frames. la the construction shown metallic guide bars 29 and 30 are seated in recesses in the upper and lower bars 13 and 14; of the heddle frame. Guideways are formed in these metallic guide bars by longitudinally extending channels 31 having relatively narrow slots 32 through the front walls of the guide bars. The heddle supports 27'and .28 arovided with-offset ends 33 and 34 which have apertures to receive screws 35 and 36 which extend through the slots 32 and enrespectively nuts 37 and 38 which slidably fit the channels 31 of the guideway. Suitable recesses 39 may be provided in the front wall of the guideway'topermit the introduction of the nuts and the assemblage of the plain weave heddlesupportsthereupon. Obviously the upper and lower supports for the narrow groups of plain weave heddles may be adjusted lengthwise of the guideway by loosening the screws 35 and 36 in the nuts so that the nuts will be permitted to slide lengthwise of the channels. The narrow groups of heddles may, therefore, be positioned properlywithrespect co-the ends of the series of lens-producing'heddles and the bolts 35 and 36 screwed up, thereby clamping the nuts against the front wallof theguides and also clamping the offset ends '33 and 34 of the heddle supports against said wall.

By reason of this construction anyde'sired numberof groups of plain weave heddles may be assembled upon the heddle frame and positioned properly with respect to the ends of the series of 'heddles for producing leno weave.

It will be understood that the rear harness is provided with complementary series of heddles for producing -leno weave in which the needle hed es extend downwardly from the upper bar'o e heddle and also that the provided with similar groups ofhecc es for producing plain weave. llo illustration of the heddles of the rear harness has, therefore, been made in view of the common knowledge of the art and because such illu tration "might lead to confusion in the'drawing.

Any suitable means may be provided for actuating the harnesses to produce a leno weave. Preferably mechanism is employed for imparting to the heddle frames vertical and transverse movements-111a true vertical plane. Such a mechanism is illustrated in a companion application, Serial No. 196,113, filed June 2, 1927. In the construction described therein the vertical movements are imparted to the heddle frames from the usual treadle mechanism of the loom and in which usual treadle-actuating cams are employed. The relative transverse movement is imparted to the heddle f 'ames by pivotally mounted L-shaped arms lO having cylindrical ends ll which engage the angle iron guideways 17 in the respective heddle frames and serve to insure vertical movement of the heddle frames, with means for rocking the arms 40 about their pivots 42 in such a manner as to produce the transverse movement of the heddle frames in the plane of the vertical movements thereof. The angle iron guide bars 18 at the opposite ends of the heddle frame are engaged by guides 43 which serve to insure vertical movement of the frames and also act to coordinate the transverse movements of the front and rear frames as more fully appears in the aforesaid application.

lVhile the mechanism which is particularly disclosed herein is adapted to produce a fabric comprising a body having a leno weave with narrow bands of plain weave at the edges of said leno weave, other different types of heddles may be employed on the same harness frames to produce bodies having different special weave in which the heddles of a certain group or groups provide a dilierent tension upon the warps from that produced by another group or other groups of heddles, or in which the heddles of a certain group or groups provide a wider opening of the shed than those of another group, or other groups, or in which the heddles of a certain group or groups otherwise manipulate the warps differently from those of another group or other groups of heddles. It will also be understood that the harnesses herein described having different heddles mounted therein may be employed in conjunction with other harnesses of plain pattern or dobby I looms as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. It will, therefore, be understood that the particular embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is of an illustrative character and is not restrictive of the meaning and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A harness for looms comprising a pair of heddle frames having fixed main heddles conjointly operable to produce a fabric body having a leno weave and provided with a group of heddles acting independently of the main heddles to produce a band of plain weave.

2. A harness for looms comprising a pair of heddle frames having fixed main heddles conjointly operable to produce a fabric body having a leno weave and provided with narrower end groups of heddles acting independently of the main heddles to produce bands of. plain weave. I

23. t. harness for looms comprising a pair of heddle frames having fixed special main (heddles operable to produce a fabric body having a leno weave and provided with narrower end groups and also intermediate and separated narrower groups of heddles acting independently of the main heddles to produce bands of plain weave.

l. A harness for looms comprising a pair of heddle frames having fixed main heddles operable to produce a fabric body of leno weave,'a plurality of narrower groups of heddles secured to the respective heddle frames and acting independently of the main heddles to produce bands of plain weave, means for adjusting the respective narrower groups of heddles transversely of the respective heddle frames.

5. A harness for looms comprising a pair of heddle frames having fixed main heddles operable to produce a fabric body of leno weave, a plurality of upper and lower heddle supports having heddles for producing a plain weave and means for attaching said heddle supports to the respective heddle frame at different positions longitudinally of said frames.

6. A harness for looms comprising a pair of rectangular heddle frames having heddles for producing a fabric having a leno weave, guideways upon the upper and lower bars of said frames, upper and lower heddle supports provided with heddles for producing a plain weave and means for securing said upper and lower heddle supports respectively to the upper and lower guideways of said heddle frames at different positions longitudinally of said frame.

7. A harness for looms comprising a pair of rectangular heddle frames having heddles for producing a fabric having a leno weave,

guideways presenting grooves extending longitudinally of the upper and lower bars of said frame,'upper and lower heddle supports having narrower groups of heddles for producing a plain weave and means on said heddle supports for slidably adjusting said supports respectively along said upper and lower guideways and means for securing'said heddle supports in adjusted position.

8. A harness for looms comprising a pair of heddle frames having a plurality of series of fixed main heddles operable to produce a leno weave, and narrow groups of heddles acting independently of the main heddles to produce bands of plain weave located at the ends ofsaid series of leno-producing heddles. 9. A harness for loomscomprising a pair of heddle frames having a plurality of series of fixed main heddles operable to produce a leno weave, narrow groups of heddles acting independently of the main heddles to produce bands of plain WEZLVE located at the ends of said series of leno-producing heddles and means for connecting the respective groups of plain Weave-producing heddles adjustably &0 said frame.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HARRY A. DAVIS. 

